Family moves horses after ordinance violations

Monday

Aug 25, 2014 at 8:08 AMAug 25, 2014 at 8:08 AM

By Andy BarrandTwitter: @abarrandHDNSOMERSET TOWNSHIP — When Garry and D’anna Bump and their two children, Mary Homminga, 14 and William Homminga, 16 moved to Somerset Township recently they thought they had found the perfect house in the country where they could enjoy their horses and live off the land.Little did they know they were going to be thrown into the middle of a battle with the township after a complaint was waged from a neighbor about their horses.The Bumps purchased 5 acres of land on South Baker Road — not knowing they couldn’t have animals on anything less than 10 acres in the township. Prior to an ordinance change in 1991 residents of Somerset Township were allowed to have farm animals on property 5 acres and larger.Because of the complaint the Bumps were forced to move a mare and two ponies from their property or face fines from the township. The Bumps also have a rescued Mustang they have had since it was a colt.D’anna said she wasn’t going to move the Mustang from their property no matter what the fines because of the bond the family has with it.Mary, who has dreams of becoming an equine veterinarian, works with the horses on a daily basis.Mary also has a love for working with her horses doing therapy for special needs children — something she can’t do since the family has had to move their horses.The Bumps were told they had to apply for a variance with the township, but it was denied.After talking with Sen. Bruce Caswell D’anna was told she might have to pursue a special use permit.The Bumps and residents of the Somerset Township were on hand at Thursday night’s Somerset Township board meeting to voice their opinions on the ordinance."This house was everything we were looking for," D’anna said. "If I would’ve known this we wouldn’t have moved here."Township Supervisor Donald Figiel sympathized with the Bumps and their children, saying he would look into what the township could do to change the ordinance and recommending the township planning commission begin working on the issue.Figiel said the only reason he even pursued the ordinance was because of the complaint from a neighbor."I am complaint-driven," he said. "This is beyond zoning; it has something to do with neighbors."I do not drive up and down the streets looking for violations," he added.He told D’anna during the meeting that if she would present him with a list of residents violating the ordinance he would have to investigate them as well.D’anna replied that she isn’t that type of person and said she was hoping that the township could come up with a solution before she goes any farther.After much discussion from the residents present and board Figiel said he would get back to the Bumps with an answer as soon as he could.After talking with the township’s attorney Friday morning the township has set a special meeting for 7 p.m. Monday.In a statement from Figiel he said the purpose of the meeting is to make a motion to address the issue of enforcement of Section 4.5 agriculture minimum lot area. The motion will recommend not to proceed with enforcement of the minimum lot area for the Agriculture Zoning District (AG-1) until the planning commission has researched the issue of lot area and makes a recommendation to the township board."We will do it the fastest way possible," he assured D’anna.Several of the neighboring townships in Lenawee and Jackson counties have specific acreage requirements to have farm animals. Rome and Macon township residents must have 5 acres of land. Madison Township has no requirements, Hudson Township residents must have 2 acres.In Jackson County Napoleon and Summit Townships require 5 acres of land. Grass Lake Township only requires 1 acre of land.